Load Line Regulations (SOR/2007-99)

• 15. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Part applies in respect of Canadian vessels and foreign vessels that are engaged on a voyage solely within the limits of the inland waters of Canada and Canadian vessels that are engaged on an inland voyage.

• (2) This Part does not apply in respect of

  • (a) pleasure craft;

  • (b) vessels ordinarily engaged in catching, attempting to catch or harvesting fish, whales, seals, walrus or other living resources of the sea;

  • (c) high-speed craft that have been certified in accordance with the HSC Code and meet the requirements of that Code;

  • (d) new vessels of less than 24 m in length;

  • (e) existing vessels of less than 150 gross tonnage;

  • (f) vessels that hold an International Load Line Certificate, a Local Load Line Certificate or an International Load Line Exemption Certificate;

  • (g) vessels that are engaged on

    • (i) a sheltered waters voyage, or

    • (ii) a domestic voyage, if the vessels are not carrying passengers or cargo;

  • (h) new vessels that do not have means of self-propulsion, are engaged on a domestic voyage and are not carrying passengers, crew or oil as cargo; or

  • (i) existing vessels that do not have means of self-propulsion, are engaged on a domestic voyage and are not carrying passengers or crew.

• (3) Section 17 does not apply in respect of vessels that hold a load line certificate issued under Title 46, chapter I, part 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States, as amended from time to time.

16. No vessel shall depart from a place in Canada and no Canadian vessel shall depart from a place outside Canada unless it

• (a) holds

  • (i) a Great Lakes and Inland Waters of Canada Load Line Certificate issued under section 17, or

  • (ii) a load line certificate issued under Title 46, chapter I, part 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States, as amended from time to time; and

• (b) is marked in accordance with the certificate.

• 17. (1) On application by the authorized representative of a new vessel, the Minister shall issue a Great Lakes and Inland Waters of Canada Load Line Certificate to the vessel if

  • (a) the conditions of assignment set out in Schedule 1 are met;

  • (b) the vessel is maintained in accordance with the requirements of a classification society;

  • (c) the vessel has been assigned freeboards that

    • (i) are determined in accordance with Schedule 2, or

    • (ii) if the freeboards determined under subparagraph (i) are not adequate because of the general structural strength of the vessel, are adequate for the general structural strength of the vessel; and

  • (d) the vessel is marked in accordance with Schedule 3.

• (2) On application by the authorized representative of an existing vessel, the Minister shall issue a Great Lakes and Inland Waters of Canada Load Line Certificate to the vessel if

  • (a) the conditions of assignment set out in Part I of Schedule I to the Rules are met;

  • (b) the vessel is maintained in accordance with the requirements of a classification society;

  • (c) the vessel has been assigned freeboards determined in accordance with Part II, III or IV of Schedule I to the Rules; and

  • (d) the vessel is marked in accordance with Part V of Schedule I to the Rules.

• (3) Despite paragraphs (1)(d) and (2)(d), the Minister may issue a certificate if

  • (a) the marking on the vessel is placed so that the freeboard is greater than that required by paragraph (1)(d) or (2)(d), as the case may be; or

  • (b) in the case of a passenger vessel, it is marked in accordance with subsection 37(2) of the Hull Construction Regulations.